Flamouth harbour.

Whew, I am so tired at the moment. A few nights of not sleeping well and I feel as though I am drugged, dragging my heels through the days with a feeling of not really being a part of it. There is no particular reason behind my current insomnia - no worries of work (though busy) or money (same as ever) or family niggles creeping into my mind in the dark of night (though I do miss Sam and Lauren and think it is high time they stopped galivanting in New Zealand and Belgium respectively and came home!). So, what to do with Isabella who frankly cares little for the needs of her sleepy-eyed mother who so desperately would like to curl up on the sofa and snooze away the day? No, she wants to see yet more boats and so it is down to the harbour we go once more.



It is filling up rapidly as the weeks progress and there is a pleasing mix of old and new, some brightly coloured and glinting in the early sun, others worn through much use, the faded paintwork partly flaking to reveal the base colours.



We sit for a while on the narrow granite steps leading down to the moored tenders (boats used to ferry people to and from their vessels) and watch the sun flashing in the ripples on the almost still surface. The tide is half in, half out and I have slightly lost track of which way it is going. Ebb or flow? It is unusual not to be aware of this in a county so connected to the sea, but I have forgotten for today.



Isabella is fascinated by the algae and barnacles clinging to the sides and as ever wants to poke her fingers into the green. The sliminess makes her shriek before I wipe it away and a seagulls answers her call with one of its own.



We walk on to find the 'lady' nestled away at the bottom of one of the many side alleys. Falmouth town is really on long street with quaint alleyways leading off it down to the sea and this ship's figurehead sits between a chandlers and a sailmakers keeping watch over the ancient building that perch either side. Unfortunately we noticed some idiots had daubed green paint onto her face - why?!!!



I love these ramshackle buildings which seem so precarious in their wibbly-wobbly way. They have stood for hundreds of years though and will no doubt long outlast me.



The light looks cold in these pictures, but there was a little sun for a change. It has been so cold and wet in Cornwall over this last week, though the late afternoons have changed into beautiful spring sunshine. Hopefully the Bank Holiday weekend will improve and my mood along with it - I do wish I weren't so affected by the this nonedescript weather, but I am and lack of sleep isn't helping. Ah well, there is always the thought of a roaring fire to cheer the days, nicely helped along by a glass of red wine...evenings only I hasten to add!



Happy May Day x